All the King's Men

“Alright, listen up, ‘cause I’m only tellin’ you once. I’m sure you all know the story of the Don, Augusto Leonetti. The man’s been running Chicago since you was all in diapers. Ain’t a politician around for thirty years who ain’t paid his due to the Don. Man was untouchable.

“Well, somebody touched him. Smothered in his sleep like some kinda animal. Yeah, yeah, real sob story, I’m getting to what this means for you. I tell you what it should mean, it should mean Boss Vito takes over like he’s been groomed to since Don found him snatchin’ wallets, and you mooks keep on like you already was. But that ain’t the case.

“Y’see, the Don went and had three bratty kids, and each one’a them thinks they got some claim to the crown, so to speak. We’re on the verge of all out war, and we gotta deal with a power struggle. What I need you to do is stay solid, do what you’re told, and stay the hell away from the brats, you hear me? They’d do a lot to have a man on the inside, but believe me, you don’t want that kinda trouble. ‘Specially not if we find out.”

Some Game Notes

“All the King’s Men” is a game set in 1940s Chicago after the death of the Don, the most notorious gangster in your lifetime and, incidentally, the guy that paid you. You’ve been given your orders: stay to the path, let the Boss handle the business, and ignore the Don’s useless brats. But, each of you has been approached by them, and their offers are… Well, tempting. And hey, maybe you’ve got a kid going to school and need a little extra cash. Maybe your wife’s sick. Maybe you’re just greedy. But one way or another, the siblings have gotten their claws in you. Either way, no matter who you’ve sided with (whether you’ve stayed loyal to the Boss or are feeding information to the siblings), you have your marching orders from either side. Keep your nose clean, and maybe you’ll get out of this tug-of-war alive.

This game is modeled, in a way, after “Game of Thrones” in tone (as well as taking some inspiration from “Repo! The Genetic Opera), and might dabble in some of the same themes, if the players wish to (and if the general consensus is in this direction, I will happily set it to NSFW). This game primarily deals with the jobs given to you by your main employer (robberies, drug-dealing, and the like) and in your dealings with your secondary employer (not getting caught is key, after all, and keeping the kids placated, though you can certainly play only for the boss, not the kids); however, the Don’s death is a mystery, and through your jobs, getting caught deeper in the webs of those higher on the food chain than you, maybe you’ll find out just what happened to the old man…

Some general gameplay information before we move on to some descriptions of your double-agent bosses:

I don’t expect this game to be a quick-paced game; everyone has their own lives, and I’ll be starting classes for the fall in just a few weeks. I’ll be setting it to “no expectations,” and gameplay will go as it goes.

Having said that, I’ve seen a lot of games stall or die because people aren’t keeping in touch and staying on. So, if I don’t hear from you via in-game comments, move, or PM for two weeks, there’s a good chance you’re going to be booted.

Tense and bolded/unbolded dialogue will be decided by the players. I prefer past tense and unbolded, but I’ll happily go along with whatever works best for everyone.

The kids and Boss Vito will be strictly narrator-only characters, but everyone else is fair game; feel free to make NPCs or talk for other NPCs as your heart’s desire. :)

The Nature cards are not your jobs (as all characters will be “soldiers,” low-level members that handle the jobs and errand work), but rather your specialty. Feel free to add your own, these are just samples, but these will be what you do best, rather than your specific calling in this game.

Card art is encouraged, but not necessary.

Feel free to ignore the available cards and make your own.

Otherwise, just bear with me; I’m still a little shaky as a narrator (I’m learning, but it’s quite a difference between player and narration), and I’ll probably mess up quite a few times before the game is over. If I do, feel free to let me know, I’d love to see constructive criticism as I go to help me make the best game possible for you guys.

The Kids

Alphonse Leonetti: the eldest sibling and, arguably, the scariest. His temper is legendary, and his skill with weaponry of all kinds common knowledge. His own gang comes with prestige and power, with a name that carries in any ear. However, dealing with the boss can be… Messy. One wrong word, and you’re dead. Tread carefully, with this one.

Carmen “Angel” Leonetti: the baby girl, the beautiful Siren of the bunch, with a long list of ex-husbands. Dead ex-husbands. She’s used her looks to get her anything she wants, the attention giving her free reign to do whatever she wants, and she’s made a name for herself in the underworld in more than one way. If you come into her open arms, you’ll have the time of your life–but beware; she flourished in a home like hers for a reason, and if she finds that you’ve been unfaithful to her and her cause, you’ll be lucky to come out alive.

Jasper “Babyface” Leonetti: The odd sibling, the youngest of the bunch. This one didn’t come out quite… Right, even by his family’s standards. Oh, he pays well, better than any other gig in town–but dealing with the man himself is difficult to stomach, from his frightening features to his twisted and cunning intellect. His creativity in dealing with traitors has turned more than one stomach, in his time.

Boss Vito: Maybe you’re a good kid, after all, keeping up with just the boss you promised to work under. Vito was a kid the Don happened to take under his wing, to mold and train not long after the birth of his first son, and Vito climbed the ranks like no other, quietly making a name for himself, until he stood at the right hand of the Don up until his last days. He’s the most moderate of the bosses, but one of the most mysterious; sure, he gives you your money on time and the jobs pay well, but he’s unpredictable in a way the kids aren’t; does that make him more dangerous?